The Recipe for Success

"Pssst! Hey! Can I have a word? Just a quiet one between you and me. I've got something to show you. Something I've been working on. It's a recipe, and if I've got it right, it should be worth a dollar or two. Of course, I'm not looking to sell it. I just want it to be right. And to work.
I call it the Recipe For Success. A tacky title to be sure, but hopefully an accurate one.
You see, I've been observing our cricket Club for close to three decades now, and I've seen talented players and talented teams never reach the heights that they were meant to, or achieve the success that they could have. And that last tiny step, the step from Contenders to Champions, is not really that huge - if you know how to negotiate it"
One of the things that our Club must first accept is that we are a little light on in terms of player depth. People may scoff at this remark, pointing towards last season, where we had three sides reaching the semi-finals, with one of those reaching the final. That is true. Yet the real truth is that as a Club we had virtually no players putting pressure on those in Grades above them. First Grade lost almost every match after Christmas, but retained basically the same squad. The critical shortage of specialist batsmen is also a concern. Somehow, this must be overcome.

And it can be. With the correct ATTITUDE being utilised by everyone in the Club, we can overcome any hurdle, and taste premiership success again.

The following steps should be carefully digested.

1. Take PRIDE in your PERSONAL PERFORMANCES

It sounds like a simple premise, but take my word for it, it hasn't been done. One of the things that has held our Club back in recent years has been the attitude that 20 runs is 'enough', or a couple of wickets is 'enough'.
"My job is done."
"I've held my spot"
"If we don't win it can't be seen as my fault"
As an individual, you should be focused enough to not only want to succeed, but to succeed at a greater level. Being satisfied with 20 runs or 2 wickets won't win cricket matches. Everyone should not only be striving for big scores or big hauls, you should have enough pride and determination in your own performance to WANT IT every week. No one can do it every week, that is a given. But if you are not striving for it every week, you become a weak link in the chain.

2. Take PRIDE in your TEAMMATES

Having conquered your own performances, you must be aware and supportive of the performances of your teammates. Some will succeed, some will fail, but you need to be able to support them no matter what. A teammate may fail, in which case they will need reassurance that the next innings will be their redemption. When a teammate succeeds, it is a time for congratulations, while also trying to drive him to greater heights.
It is okay to feel less than cordial if your teammate is bagging wickets or slashing runs while you are struggling - as long as you don't show it. Don't bring your teammates down to your level - bring yourself up to their level!

3. Take PRIDE in your TEAM

Always be a part of the team, not a dead weight. People who sulk and brood through an afternoon, whether it be on or off the field, bring down the rest of the team in the process. Celebrate the good times. In the harder times, stay in the game and talk positively on the field. Enjoy a joke when they come, stay committed to the cause. Leave negativity out of the equation.
Get to know your teammates, especially newer ones into the Club or Team. Don't allow the team to become a closed shop. Everyone must not only feel as though they are a part of the team, they must also open the team to everyone.
Fight together as a team in adversity. If quick wickets begin to fall when batting, or they have dried up when bowling, support each other as a team, and drive the team to break the cycle.

4. Take PRIDE in your CLUB

Slowly but surely we are getting better at this (mainly as some of our kids move up the Grades, and some of our elder statesmen begin moving back through the Grades) but more work is needed. The relationship between the players of different Grades is something that tightens the bonds of the Club, and improves everyone's performances. The chief role in doing this is for more players to return to the Grand Hotel Beer Garden after each day's play, to tell the tales of the day's happenings. Driving competition between the Grades, and individuals in other Grades, helps to not only bond the Club, but push everyone to a higher level, to get the better of that particular Grade or player next weekend. Healthy competition between the Grades, and healthy support of their cause as well. Being aware and wanting to be aware of what is happening with all other Grades each Saturday is a major part of becoming the best we can be.

5. Take PRIDE in your GAME

Don't ever forget – it is only a game. If you stop enjoying the contest, you'll be doing yourself, and everyone involved, no favours by continuing. If you are just sulking over poor performances, wake up to yourself and get on with the show. It's a bloody GAME for goodness sakes!!! Enjoy the struggle, laugh at ineptitude, and have a beer at the end.

Cricket philosophy is easy. I can preach it to you ad nauseum if you would like. Actually putting it into practice and proving its worth is a completely different and more difficult thing to do. I'd like to see it happen, if only for a season.
In the long run, it all comes back to taking pride in your personal performance.

It can't happen with JUST you. But it can't happen WITHOUT you.